Genetic Counsellor Certification

Becoming a genetic counsellor requires successful completion of an accredited Masters in Genetic Counselling program, following which an individual can seek employment and apply to the Profession Practice Committee to become a Member of HGSA (MHGSA) and inclusion on the Register of Genetic Counsellors with an "Active" status.

Apply for MGHSA and Registered Genetic Counselling Active Status.

MHGSA genetic counsellors can undertake further training to become certified, which grants them a Fellowship of the Human Genetics Society of Australasia (FHGSA). To undertake certification, candidates must be employed in a genetic counselling position. To attain certification, candidates must satisfy the requirements of the Certification Committee and demonstrate full knowledge, skills and competency as a genetic counsellor. Once certification is achieved, a genetic counsellor is entitled to use the title Fellow of the Human Genetics Society of Australasia (FHGSA).

Practitioner Certification Policy for Genetic Counsellors

To download the following forms please click on the relevant line below.

• FHGSA Submission Form
• Supervisor Feedback Letter (Observed Reflective Case) Template
• Template for Logbook
• Observed Logbook Case Form
• Template for Long and Ethics Cases
• Reflective Essay Template - Recorded
• Reflective Essay Template - Observed
• Supervisor Report Form

Frequently asked questions have been answered here. 

Alert from the BOC regarding the use of AI in Certification Submission click here

Submission Dates

New submissions will still be accepted in March 2026. 

 From September 2026 only new submissions will be accepted in September and resubmissions only from March 2027. 

 Until the end of 2025, there were previously two submission dates each year, 31 March and 30 September.

Change to submission dates from September 2026

Full submissions due 30 September

Re-submissions due 31 March  

After much consultation with Australasian participants, and consideration of international standards, the decision has been made to edit the certification submission process.  The changes will come into effect from September 2026.

Why is this change being made?

• The introduction of the interlinked regulation system for genetic counselling registration with audit dates in March means that feedback on Certification submissions cannot be issued until the concurrent CPD and Practice audits have been completed
• The workload of the volunteer Board and volunteer committees including the Certification Committee will be more streamlined with more capacity for providing timely feedback on re-submissions in March and full submissions in September

How does this compare with other countries?

• This continues to provide more frequent options for submission compared with other regions, as submissions or exams are only offered once yearly or once every two years in USA, Canada, UK and Europe. What will this mean for Certification candidates?
• At September 30, 2026, only full submissions will be reviewed, and only re-submissions will be reviewed at the March 2027 submission round, continuing in this pattern.
• Feedback on full September submissions will be provided in December, and candidates would be able to re-submit any amendments in the following March.
• Feedback on March re-submissions will be provided several months prior to the next September submission date. This will mean candidates who have their Submission 1 accepted (after the September submission date or after re-submitting in March) can choose whether to make their Submission 2 at the next September submission date (i.e., 12 months after Submission 1) or the following September (i.e., 2 years after Submission 1). 
• This will not alter the minimum possible timeframe from Submission 1 to completion of certification. 

Fees associated with Certification:

• The fee for applying for MHGSA and Registered Genetic Counsellor is AU$150 for those who are member of the HGSA. This is an annual fee which also covers the cost of certification.
• If you are not a member of the HGSA, you are able to apply to join the HGSA Register of Genetic Counsellors for an additional fee. Those who are non-member of the HGSA are unable to complete certification. 

Certification Committee

The Certification Committee reports to the HGSA Board of Censors for Genetic Counselling. Its aim is to maintain the professional credibility and competence of genetic counsellors through a process of professional certification. It ensures that individual genetic counsellors have relevant professional skills and knowledge to provide safe and effective delivery of services within their profession.

HGSA Certification Committee Terms of Reference

General Enquiries/Correspondence

[email protected]

[email protected]

Committee Members Content

Members of the Certification Committee can search and view member CPD records and files here.

Receiving feedback on submissions

The Certification Committee and Board of Censors have a constructive approach and are motivated to assist genetic counsellors with their professional development.  

• Sometimes feedback on submissions may raise questions, concerns and emotions. 
• The committee understands that the submissions represent a large amount of work and effort made by candidates and recognise that receiving feedback is sometimes challenging, and therefore endeavour to provide this in a thoughtful and constructive manner.
• The feedback does not seek to question or make any judgements on the experience of clients in any way.   
• The feedback does not aim to criticise the approach of the genetic counsellor.  The feedback is intended to facilitate constructive reflection and/or to clarify or gather more details of key aspects which may be unclear in the case report or essay. 
• This process is intended to facilitate professional development and to maintain the standard of client care and genetic counselling practice in Australasia.
• The feedback provided reflects a consensus via several reviewers and the committee. The committee consists of experienced genetic counsellors and an experienced clinical geneticist, who each volunteer their time for the benefit of our profession.

If you have a question, concern or complaint about the certification process, these are the steps available to you, in recommended order:

1. Discuss with your genetic counselling supervisors. This is the primary way to reflect on the feedback with support from your supervisors.
2. If  discussing with your supervisor has not addressed the question and you are unsure what is required for re-submission, you can email the Certification Committee to ask for clarification. Please be mindful of the voluntary hours that the committee members donate to this process and consider avoiding unnecessary emails on minor issues.
3. If email correspondence with the Certification Committee has not resolved a significant issue, you are very welcome to request an online meeting to discuss further.
4. Further avenues include email correspondence with the Board of Censors for Genetic Counselling or the HGSA.  Online meetings for discussion can be arranged.  

Thank you for approaching communication in a professional way, as the volunteers on the Board and subcommittees are your colleagues, and undertake their role with professionalism and empathy, and are grateful for the same in any communications.

Genetic Counsellors Certified overseas

See Clinical Certification Policy for Genetic Counsellors page 14 and 15.

In the documents below information can be found regarding the requirements for genetic counsellors trained overseas moving to Australasia, as well as for genetic counsellors trained in Australasia and moving overseas. 

International Reciprocal Arrangements for Genetic Counsellors

American Board of Genetic Counseling and HGSA Recognition Letter

Canadian Board of Genetic Counselling and HGSA Recognition Letter